Sports
NBBF Grassroots Competition Attracts B’ball Court To Ebonyi
The grassroots development competition organised by the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has attracted the first official basketball court to Ebonyi.
The NBBF South-East Zonal Representative, Mr Osita Nwachukwu, who made the disclosure at the weekend in Abakaliki during the closing of the competition, noted that it was a great feat achieved by the zone.
Nwachukwu said that Ebonyi’s case was special because it hitherto did not have a basketball court which has, however, been attracted by the competition.
“This gives the entire basketball community in the zone and the country a great joy because basketball players in the state will have the opportunity of showcasing and developing their talents,” he said.
The U.S-based former D’Tigers star, said the Ebonyi Government would decide on making the basketball court permanent having been situated inside the main bowl of the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium.
“The government will decide what to do with the already marked court but we are happy that it has afforded Ebonyi the opportunity of hosting the competition previously held in Enugu in 2016 and Imo in 2017.
“Basketball will experience a new lease of life in Ebonyi and we pledge to redouble our efforts to develop the sport in the zone,” he said.
He noted that organising the competition was one of the promises he made to the basketball community in the zone during his campaign for the position.
“I promised then that I will bring basketball to the doorsteps of the people and this is what we have done by organising the competition.
“Anambra will host the 2019 edition of the competition which is competed by the male and female teams of states in the zone on a round-robin format.
“Winners in the male category will be presented with a trophy, medals and N150, 000 prize money, while the two top teams in the female category will represent the zone in the South-East/South-South challenge in Lagos,” he said.
Nwachukwu noted that three players who participated in the 2016 edition were presently in the U.S. on scholarship sponsored by the zone’s leadership.
“We hope that they will in the future become prominent members of D’Tigers and D’Tigress teams as 70 per cent of players in both teams are from the South-East of the country.
“We will continue offering these youngsters the opportunities of developing and showcasing their talents to sustain this dominance by the zone in the nation’s basketball,” he said.
Kingsley Achu, Coach of the Ebonyi contingent, commended the organisers for organising a hitch-free competition as it would complement efforts made to develop basketball in the state.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.
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